Home

The women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are among the poorest in the world. Civil war, disease, famine and sexual violence are a fact of daily life. They must rely on their own ingenuity and support of trusted friends to provide for their families in a land with very little infrastructure and few jobs.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

First Step Initiative was founded to give the women of the DRC a helping hand. We provide small grants to women’s collectives – called “merry-go-rounds” – to enable women in the city of Lubumbashi start or expand their small businesses so they can earn a living while providing valuable goods and services to their communities.

Our History

Chingwell Mutombu began sending small amounts of money to the DRC in 2004 to distribute to women in the area where she grew up to help them create a way to support their families. From that small effort, First Step Initiative was born. Over the past decade, we have helped nearly 1,000 women rise from poverty – making a better life for themselves, their families and their communities.